Road drag



Apr. 17, 1923.

M. STOFFEL ROAD DRAG 2 sheets-sheet z Filed Omi. 18 1921 Patented Apr. 17, 1923.

MARTIN STOFFEL, 0F MGHENRY, ILLINOS.

ROAD DRAG.

Application filed October 18, 1921.

To all whom t may ccm-cera.'

Be it known that l, MAnTiN lrorrni., a citizen of the United States, anda resident of the city of McHenry, county of McHenry, and State of illinois, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Road Drags, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in road drags, and has for its principal object the provision of an improved construction of this character which will be highly efficient in use.

A. further object of my improved road drag is the provision of a pair of co-operating diverging blades spaced apart at their inner adjacent ends to permit the passage of rocks and lumps of clay which are forced to the center of the road by the blades and afterwards picked up and carted away.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my improved road drag;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

The preferred form of construction as illustrated in the drawings comprises a triangular' shaped main frame 6 formed of anguiar members 7 and 8 rigidly connected together adjacent the ends thereof to oppositely disposed diverging angular side frame members 9 and 10. Hingedly connected to the front iframe member 7 and the rear frame member 8, in spaced relation with respect to the side frame members 9 and 10, through. the medium of suitable hinge members 9 are oppositely disposed blades 11 and 12 spaced apart at their inner adjacent ends as at 13. The blades 11 and 12 when in operation are adapted to engage the surface of a road forcing loose soil, lumps of clay and rocks to the center of the road filling ruts, and holes or the like. Means is provided whereby the blades 11 and 12 are held Serial No. 508,521.

rigid during operation and whereby the said blades can be adjusted at any desired angle independent of each other. Said means comprises a pair of oppositely disposed levers 14 and 15 pivotally mounted on anguiar brace members 16 and 17 rigidly secured to the frame members 8 and 9. The lower end of each of the said levers is rigidly connected to a lug 19 which is rigidly connected to each of the blades 11 and 12.

Each of the said levers is adapted to engage a toothed segment 18 rigidly secured adjacent the end of each of the braces 16 and 17. Suitable latch mechanism of any approved type is provided for holding the levers 14 and 15 in adjusted position with respect to the segment 18. A clevis 2O is secured adjacent each end of the frame member 7 whereby 'the drag may be connected to a tractor (not shown) or the like.

In operation as the drag is dragged over the road to be leveled, dirt, rocks, or the like will be forced to the center of the road by the diverging blades 11 and 127 filling ruts and deep holes or the like. Large lumps of clay or rocks which are too large to pass into the ruts or holes are discharged through the space 13 between the inner adj acent ends of the blades.

Heretofore road drags of the character herein illustrated and described comprised but a single blade which when in operation lay in a position diagonally across the road. This construction of a drag did not prove of value because the single blade when in-operation and upon engagement with a wide rut would drop into the rut and dig the same deeper instead of filling it with loose dirt or the like gathered by the blade. As can be readily understood by the provision of a drag as herein illustrated and described comprising al pair of oppositely disposed diverging blades. the said blades do not pass into or engage the ruts of a road no matter what size or shape they may be, as is the case of the construction of a drag briefly illus-- trated above, but will pass over the rut discharging the dirt gathered by the blades into the same.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. l, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of the construction set forth, but desire to avail, myself of such variations :md modifications as come Within the scope of the appended Claim.

Having described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A road drag including` aV triangularly shaped frame comprising angular front and rear frame members and opposite diverging angular side inme. membersa angular reinforcing members secured to the iront frame member and the side frame members9 diverging blades hingedly carried by the front and rear iframe members7 lug members carried by the blades, an operating lever piyotally Carried by each of the re-iniforeing members and secured to said lugs, and a toothed segment Carried by the re-ini'oreing members for engagement with the ezrteh meelianism of the lever to prevent movement thereof and whereby the blades lfire held rigid during operation.

ln testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing, Witnesses.

MARTE? STOFFEL. lWitnesses JOSHUA lr. H. Pernis, Funnix C. ArrmciroN. 

